Chapter 21, Problem 12A

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Nonvascular plants make up one of the four major groups of plants that evolved along with green algae from a common ancestor. In general, nonvascular plants usually are small, which enables materials to move within them easily. These plants often are found growing in damp, shady areas where an environment provides the water needed by nonvascular plants for nutrient transport and reproduction.

Answer to Problem 12A

Correct answer :

The correct answer is option (C) seedless

Explanation of Solution

Explanation/justification for the correct answer :

Option (C) seedless. Club mosses and the fern group make up the seedless vascular plant group. This plant group is one of the three plant groups with vascular tissues. Seedless vascular plants exhibit a great diversity of form and size. Most club mosses are small plants, usually less than 30 cm in height. Therefore, this option does not describe the plant given in the picture. So, the correct answer is option (C).

Explanation for incorrect answer :

Option (A) multicellular. All plants are multicellular eukaryotes with tissues and organs that have specialized structures and functions. Therefore, this option describes the plant given in the picture. So, this is an incorrect option.

Option (B) nonvascular. The given picture is a liverwort which is a nonvascular plant. Therefore, this option describes the plant given in the picture. So, this is an incorrect answer.

Option (D) thallose. Liverworts are classified as either thallose or leafy. A thallose liverwort has a body that resembles a fleshy, lobed structure. Leafy liverworts have stems with flat, thin leaf-structures arranged in three rows. Therefore, this option describes the plant given in the picture. So, this is an incorrect answer.